Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-12
LANGUAGE OF LEGS.
A Physiognomist Studies Human Nature
in a Street Car.

III a Street Cdr.
"Did Won notice that old man who Just
went past ?" asked a young doctor the other
day !" Well, he will sit with his right leg
crossing the left
Why, what do you mean?"
% Nothing much. Only that any observer
can tell what leg a man will cross by the
way he wears his clothing"
You don't mean to say that you know
| from the appearance of person how they
cross their feet ?n l inquired.
i" Yes that's it. You don't believe it !?
Well, come with me. Well take q short
ride on street car, and I'll prove my as
sertion to be true.
A few moments later saw me aboard a
car, the sole occupant being German wo-
man with basket
.She don't count?' l suggested, inquir-
ingly.
"Oh, yes. You can tell women just as
well as men. She will put the left foot
ished, as if to prove the truth of his state
ment, the left broad shoe was slowly put
over the right
There's a subject for US, he continued,
as thin young man with an immense
walking cane entered the door. Look
how neatly his coat fits; see how his silk
hat shines; observe his polished boots.
You will notice the hight of his collar and
his spotless linen. All right now. That
man will pull his pantaloons gently at the
knee, and then with care cross the right
leg over the left.
1t was getting rather interesting, and il
was with delight welcomed another pas
senger. He was fair and fat, but more
than 49, His ruddy, oyerhapging cheeks
rivaled his scaLty locks in the fashionable
-
thing remarkable, judged from the space
dropped but one fare in the box.
"a cherub, eh? - said the physiogno-
mist Now that man is lazy See how
timber his collar is, and how unclean his
cuffs. Even the age of soldering is not
past, which is responsible for those marks
on his coat. Now one glance is sufficient
to show that he will use great work to get
the left leg over the right. See him? It's
q difficult task, but he imagines that it is
as nicely crossed as any mans can be.
. YoI will find the majority of people are
not over neat about their appearance.
While they may be Clearly enough, they
haven't much pride in the fit OF their
clothing; consequently, most people give
the preference to the left foot 1t is even
noticeable by the hands, See our fat man
see how snugly he crosses the right hand
with the left It's the most interesting
study one can have, the study of human
nature. | practice ct ii continually. |
have also taught myself 10 read peoples
thoughts"
The car by this time was comfortably
filed. Along the opposite side, with the
exception of the old man the left leg was
crossing the right One woman out of the
four female passengers crossed right, and
if appearance counts for aught | could
have told it would be so.
Another thing | have studied, contin.
ued this student of human nature, land
that is the movement of the eyelids. If |
want 10 tell woman's temper / watch her
eyelids. You can reed man in the same
way, but not so readily. a woman with
q fiery temper viii move her eyelids with
a snap, and that snap betrays her. An
other who is easy going and hard to arouse
moves her eyelidS langI;dly. One with
quick brain and temper, furious when
aroused Justly. winks steadily, but neither
quickly nor slowly until engaged in inter-
esting conversation. Even bright thoughts
will cause her eyelids to move with rapid
ity and show the state of the brain as well
as her temper.
Why do I study these human points
you ask. In the first place, because it is
interesting to me. and next, because it is
useful for man in public life TO have an
insight into human nature. When we
have learned just such little things as these
we can more quickly tell the men or wo-
men We come in contact with, which is
always an advantage. Clothing, hats, seal
saeoues, even place where button should
be- partakes of the character OF the wearer
and tells a student as plain as print with
whom be has TO deai. N-Ncm I,otk .Loan.nnl